New Delhi, Feb 24: South Africa beat West Indies by seven wickets at the Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium in Delhi to begin their 2011 ICC World Cup campaign on a winning note. The Proteas win was spearheaded by legspinner Imran Tahir (4/41) and AB De Villiers (107*).
South Africa opted to field first after winning the toss on a Feroz Shah Kotla wicket hosting international cricket after a while. West Indies, after losing Chris Gayle (2) early, were cruising along at a run rate of just under five with the score at 113/1 at the end of 23 overs. But when Darren Bravo (73) was trapped lbw by Johan Botha, the Caribbean slide began. Imran Tahir, playing his first ODI game, took four middle order wickets and had it not been for Shivnarine Chanderpaul (31) and Dwayne Bravo (4o), the West Indies’ total of 222 might have been a lot lower. Dale Steyn complemented Tahir’s effort with figures of three for 24.
South Africa began their run chase by losing quick wickets. Hashim Amla (14) and Jacques Kallis (4) were both back in the pavilion with the score at 20. But AB de Villiers, South Africa’s No. 4 batsman, played a champion innings to steer his side out of trouble. He first produced a 119-run partnership with captain Graeme Smith (45) followed by an 84-run partnership with JP Duminy (42*) to guide South Africa home. De Villiers remained unbeaten on 107*(105b, 8x4, 2x6), bringing up his tenth century in ODI cricket.
Brief scores: South Africa 223/3 in 42.5 overs (AB de Villiers 107*, Graeme Smith 45, JP Duminy 42*) beat West Indies 222 all out in 47.3 overs (Darren Bravo 73, Dwayne Bravo 40, Imran Tahir 4/41, Dale Steyn 3/24) by seven wickets
Man-of-the-Match:AB de Villiers for his innings of 107* that saw South Africa cruise to a seven-wicket win over West Indies.
